Days

Day1:Arrival

Arrival to Kutaisi Airport and transfer to the 4 * hotel in Tskaltubo Spa Resort, check in, having a time for rest and taking a Kutaisi inner tour with its historical and cultural places. Also visiting “Promete Cave” an amazing place. Getting back to the Hotel with Dinner and overnight.

Day2:Trip: Tskaltubo - Tbilisi

After breakfast we will drive to the Capital of Georgia – Tbilisi, check in at 4 * hotel, taking a little bit rest and continuing to visit historical places and churches in Mtskheta- -the old capital city of Georgia. Mtskheta is called as a “little Jerusalem”, because of the holly item are buried there. In the evening we will take a night Tbilisi Tour, have dinner and get back to the hotel for overnight.

Day3:Trip: Tbilisi – Kakheti - Rustavi

After having breakfast the group starts the journey and, the first place where we will visit, is the grave of St. Nino held here in a Bodbe monastery (4th century) and taste the water from the spring which is considered to be miraculous. Near Bodbe we will visit fortified town of Sighnaghi (17th century) and enjoy the splendid views of the Great Caucasus Mountains. Sighnaghi is famous of wine and traditional carpets. We will visit Telavi also and then we will drive to the City Rustavi for overnight.

Transfer from Rustavi to the Georgian-Armenian Border. After crossing the border we will continue our driving to the South towards Ijevan town taking off-road way through mountainous landscapes. Having picnic lunch in the nature we will continue through Ijevan to Dilijan National Park located on the upstream pool of Aghstev river, and surrounded by the Lesser Caucasus mountains. In Dilijan after accommodation in the hotel we will have dinner and stay for overnight.

Day5:Trip: Dilijan - Lake Sevan – Selim Pass – Eghegis - Sisian

After Breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Lake Sevan, which is the largest lake in Caucasus as well as one of the largest, and highest freshwater lakes of the world located on 1897m above sea level, depth is 90m, an area-1260km square, lengh-70km, width-55km and the volume is 58billion cubic meters. In summer, the middle temperature of lake surface is 18-23 degrees above zero, which is very convenient for swimming. After reaching the shore of Lake Sevan we will walk to the top of Sevan peninsula to visit Sevanavank monastery built in 305 A.C. by the daughter of King Ashot Bagratuni - Mariam and during the 9th century became the royal citadel of the Armenian Kings. Then we will drive to the South-West towards Selim Pass climbing up over 2,410m and following the historic Silk Road and visiting on the way Selim Caravanserai built in 1331. Continuing our way we will drive to Eghegis State Sanctuary we will have picnic lunch and then visit the Fortress of King Smbat located on the top of mountain and built X – XI centuries with high and wide (2-3 m) pyramid type fort-walls and protected by the Artabuni River and deep canyons. From the fortress there is an amazing view to Tsakhats Kar Monastery and magic jeep route connecting it with the Citadel and telling us about the local legends and story about these two historical monuments. Leaving the fortress we will continue our way to Sisian town passing on the way Lake Spandaryan. We will stay for overnight in the hotel in Sisian, where we will have dinner, accompanied with performance of young dancers’ ensemble of Sisian.

Day6:Trip: Sisian – Tatev – Goris - Sisian

After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Tatev Monastery Complex built in 895-906, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important Education and Religion Centers situated in medieval Syunik region. On the way we will take Tatev Wings ropeway, which is the longest two-way ropeway of the world and flies above deep Vorotan gorge opening breath-taking views of the Vorotan Canyon. Visiting Tatev Monastery we will enjoy Tatev ensemble fitting in perfectly with the mountainous landscape around it. This gives the ensemble an original and majestic appearance. During the XIV and XV centuries it was famous for its university. Leaving Tatev Monastery we will have lunch in Tatev village. After lunch we will drive to Goris town through Vorotan river gorge. Then we will drive back to the hotel in Sisian town for dinner and overnight.

Day7:Trip: Sisian – Camel Mountain - Jermuk

After breakfast we will take off-road rout to drive up to Camel Mountain. This trip is optional depending on the season. Driving closely to the top of Camel mountain (3300 meters above sea level) we will hike up to the lake called “Camel Mount”, enjoy sightseeing and visit one of the unique wonders of the world, rock carvings of Camel Mountain from pre-historic era. After interesting mountainous excursion and picnic lunch in the nature we will drive to the North Jermuk town, which is one of the most beautiful health resorts and famous with its mineral water. In the hotel in Jermuk we will have dinner and stay for overnight.

Day8:Trip: Jermuk – Aghavnadzor Village – Yerevan

After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to the North and passing through grand canyon surrounded by the famous caves we will through mountainous off-road way drive to Aghavnadzor village where we can explore Armenian village life typical to Vayots Dzor District culture and traditions. Introduction of old Armenian lifestyle, experiencing the hospitality and participating in Armenian Lavash (bread) baking and tasting, honey squeezing and tasting, cheese making and tasting and homemade wine and vodka tasting and also we can choose from national Armenian dishes such as tolma, harisa, apur, ghapama and many others during our lunch hosted by the local family. After lunch we will continue our way to Yerevan. After accommodation in the hotel we will have dinner in one of the nice restaurants in the center of Yerevan, tasting Armenian kitchen and enjoying Armenian music. After dinner we will embark on an evening tour of Yerevan city that includes walking through nice Northern prospect towards the Republic Square, where we can enjoy the Large Dancing Water Fountains.

Day9:Trip: Yerevan – Amberd Fortress – Artik - Gyumri

After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to the North to the highest mountain of Armenia Aragats (4090 m) to visit Amberd Fortress a midcentury fort-city built during the 10th century. We will enjoy the landscape surrounding the fortress and alpine flowers near the fortress and on the wings of Aragats. After lunch we will drive to the North-East towards Gyumri, which is the second city in Armenia visiting on the way Artik town rich with the monuments of Armenian culture. In that area tombs from the ancient times were built belonged to the period of 14-13cc, 12-11cc, 10-9cc B.C. Artik's ancient culture is important not only because it gives us a chance to explore the ways of life of the Aragats ancient population, but it also shows us the connection between the Armenian culture and that of the ancient East’s civilizations. After accommodation in the hotel in Gyumri we will have city tour visiting the most interesting places and sights in one of the oldest cities in Armenia, which is also famous place for its historical-cultural traditions, strong art and crafts, education and also by film making industry (a lot of films were produced in Gyumri). We will visit Yot Verk (St. Nshan) Church in the Central Square of Gyumri built in 1859, Statue of Mother Armenia and also we will walk in the famous Gyumri’s craftsmen street and other sightseeing of old Gyumri, where a lot of Armenian films have been produced. After city tour we will have dinner tasting the food specific to Gyumri famous kitchen.

Day10:Trip: Armenia (Gyumri) – Georgia (Akhalqalaqi – Bakuriani)

After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to the north to the Armenian-Georgian border at Bavra. After crossing the Border we will drive to the city Akhalqalaqi, visit Bakuriani and make check in, have dinner and stay for overnight in the local 4 * hotel.

Day11:Trip: Bakuriani – Vardzia - Borjomi

After breakfast we will drive to Vardzia, which is a cave monastery site in southern Georgia, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, 30 kilometres from Aspindza. The main period of construction was the second half of the 12th century. The caves stretch along the cliff for some five hundred meters and in up to nineteen tiers. The Church of the Dormition, dating to the 1180s during the golden age of Tamar and Rustaveli, has an important series of wall paintings. The site was largely abandoned after the Ottoman takeover in the 16th century. Now part of a state heritage reserve, the extended area of Vardzia-Khertvisi has been submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Leaving Vardzia we will drive to Borjomi, where we will have dinner and stay for overnight at the local hotel.

Day12:The Final Day

Price Includes

Airport transfer, costs of transportation,Transfer from Gyumri to Bavra and from Bagratashen (Armenian-Georgian borders) to haghpat, Yerevan and Gyumri city tours, entrance fees, overnight, full board, as well as the local guides. Price is per passenger and is calculated for 20 pax, for double accommodation, self-driving option and are net of commissions.